OSCAR SUAREZ: AN AMAZING GRACE OF A MAN By: Joel L. Bodegon Good evening! First of all, let me thank Ate Marlene for inviting me tonight to share with you some words of remembrance of Kuya Oscar, an amazing grace of a man of Christ. Tonight is a fitting moment for us to share our remembrances of Kuya Oscar, even as the last three days and nights, we have been gathering here telling stories of him. I can see that this sanctuary is close to overflowing of friends and relations, and I am sure there are many more who would have come, except that either they are saddled with equally pressing work or failed to receive their invitation. With Kuya Oscar, it is difficult to imagine an end to this story-telling about his life and ministry, his successes and disappointments, his joys and travails. For, like Pastor Eloy Rigos before him, Kuya Oscar was a sign of what is possible in terms of intellectual brilliance, of courageous leadership in church in the midst of grave trials and even persecution, of constancy and awesome presence in the ministry. Kuya Oscar was a visible sign of God’s glory, and I can imagine that is the reason why we are so many here tonight. I am personal witness to Kuya Oscar as proof of God working—and working relentlessly—in the world today. If he ever complained, it was because he felt some failed to acknowledge his goodness, the purity of his heart and intention, his resolute commitment to the ministry—all for the glory of God and His people. I was UCCP chairman for two terms. Even as I cannot recall the first time I met Kuya Oscar, one thing is certain: I was immediately taken by man. I understand from Ate Marlene that even when they were in Princeton University, where Kuya Oscar obtained his doctorate degree in theology and society and where he was lecturer from 1985 to 1992, Kuya Oscar always wanted to come back and do his ministry here. What Ate Marlene said struck me hard. They had a good life in Princeton; they need not come back here. In fact, when Kuya Oscar decided to come back, Ate Marlene had difficulty in immediately joining him here. She had to let go of her own work engagement, and it took her a while to join Kuya Oscar here. Kuya Oscar taught at the Union Theological Seminary, and I remember that it was in 1996 when he became your head pastor here at Cosmo. It was also at that time that we, at UCCP Ellinwood, installed our first woman pastor, Rev. Ruth Billena. Kuya Oscar was blessed with many gifts—preaching, teaching, ministry, exemplary leadership, visionary. He was indefatigable worker in the vineyard of the Lord. His leadership went beyond the local church onto the wider judicatories—even in the wide international ecumenical community. He and I had served together in many church bodies, most of all the UCCP Foundation. He was president of the Philippine Christian University. Even as he encountered some difficulties, Kuya Oscar’s faith never faltered; his commitment to the UCCP never wavered, as a he called me one night two or three weeks ago to tell me that because of some misunderstanding, he could not assume the position of Chaplain at the Silliman University in Dumaguete City. I sensed that he was deeply downhearted, and I tried to console, to comfort him, telling him that it must be part of God’s plan for him—to go through the pains and suffering as that of Christ. We agreed to meet at lunch that week, but because of conflict in our schedule we never did. Then, last Saturday at 9:33 in the evening, as I was driving home, I called Kuya Oscar through his cell phone only to be told that the number I dialled was incorrect. I tried again twice, and got the same advice. As I was doing some urgent work at home that night, I got a text message from the president of Silliman University, Dr. Ben Malayang. The message totally shocked me. It said that he got advice from Kuya Greg Morales that Kuya Oscar died at 9:45 that night and urged that we pray for Ate Marlene and the kids. I couldn’t believe the report, so I again called the number of Kuya Oscar, only to get the same advice—the number was incorrect. On a personal matter, I have so many things to say about Kuya Oscar. He was not only a friend, he was also a brother, spiritual adviser, mentor and an inspiring presence in my life—and he will remain to be so for as long as I live. Indeed, he was an amazing grace of a man! I will miss him deeply, as I know all of you will. I had wanted him to officiate at my wedding and to deliver the only homily at my own funeral when I, too, depart, but now he is gone. As I said of Pastor Rigos in this very same place when he was laid in state, Kuya Oscar was likewise a scintilla of hope, albeit a flash in time, the universe, and God’s long history of salvation. But like the bread that we partake at communion, Kuya Oscar was broken too—to remind us of our separateness, our divisions, our never ending quarrels, and God’s promise to gather us anew. Ate Marlene and kids, friends and relations of Kuya Oscar, please accept my sympathies for your loss. It is as much as my own loss. We know that words will never fill the void in your hearts from Kuya Oscar’s departing, but we also know that he is now in an infinitely better place, where there are no more tears, no more gnashing of teeth. Like the Apostle Paul, his desire is fulfilled as he is now reunited with Christ, our Lord and Savior. Let us never forget that we are the church, and remembering is not something we do, it is something that we are. We shall never forget Kuya Oscar, and the legacy of his work will forever be in our hearts. Our being church makes us God’s sign of revealing Himself to us, to the world. Kuya Oscar’s work in this our broken world may have ended, but ours has not. Let us then take up where Kuya Oscar left off, and continue our work to realize God’s kingdom on earth. Amen!
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 23:47:41 +0000
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